Combination triple head press



Dec. 2, 1941. E, MALL 2,264,884

COMBINATION TRIPLE HEAD PRESS Filed Oct. 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l in E5! 5 W IVENTR L- 28 3 EDWIN A. MALL 38 37 2 Maw Dec. 2, 1941. E. A. MALL 2,264,884

COMBINATION TRIPLE HEM PRESS Filed Oct. 30, 1939 4, 3 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR EDWIN A. MALL Dec. 2, 1941. E. A. MALL COMBINATION TRIPLE HEAD PRESS Filed Oct. 30,- 1939 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-ll INVENTOR BY EDWIN A. MALL Mfl' ATTOifiYS I Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNiTED STATES FATENT OFFICE CQMBINATION TRIPLE HEAD PRESS Application October 30, 1939, Serial No. 301,867

23 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for pressing or ironing the collars or neckbands and cuffs of a shirt. Whil usable for shirts having attached collars or having a neckband to receive a separate collar, for convenience those portions of either kind of shirt surrounding the neck of the wearer will be referred to as the neckband, and, without repetition, it will be understood that neckband herein refers to the neckband of either kind of shirt.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pressing machine of the character described which locates the neckband ironing platens and cuff ironing platens in superposed relation, either over the other, so as to reduce the overall size of the press and save space.

Another object of the invention is to utilize a single motor for simultaneously producing pressure between neckband and cuff ironing platens mounted in such superposed relation, to thereby increase the ironing pressure capable of application to any of the platens as compared with machines where the platens are not superposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved press of this class, with superposed platens, as described, the arrangement of said platens being such as to present the work receivfor manipulation of the work, including the :3

necessary clearance or free space above the work support while making the lay, and all without departing from. the standard manner of operation of pressing platens in machines of this kind.

A further object is to provide an improved press including three platens, upper, intermediate, and lower, the intermediate platen serving as a work support for cooperation with the upper platen acting as a pressing head, and also serving as an ironing member for cooperation with the lower platen acting as a work support, together with means for supplying heat to the intermediate platen for the heating of its lower ironing surface, but in such manner that the same heat serves to keep dry the padding mounted upon its upper surface and upon which the work is supported.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved garment press including an upper ironing platen or head, a lower work supporting platen having a padded bed member movable horizontally into and out of registering relation with the ironing platen and provided with means for latching or holding the horizontally movable slide in its inner or pressing position, the latching means being releasable by the production of an ironing or pressing effect so that when the press opens the work support will automatically move to its outer position out of registration with the head above it.

of. the parts shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away and in section, and the dot and dash lines showing the upper laten or head in locked position.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the left-hand cufl receiving platen, showing the padding slide in latched position.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan view on approximately the line 44, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on approximately the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and '7 are respectively detail plan and elevation views illustrating certain latching devices on a larger scale.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, corresponding to Fig. 1, showing a modified arrangement of the pressing members.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental front elevation, corresponding to Fig. 2, illustrating parts of the press shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation, corresponding to Fig. 1, showing still another embodiment of the invention.

And Fig. 11 is a fragmental front elevation, corresponding to Fig. 2, illustrating parts of the press shown in Fig. 10.

According to my invention, I provide three pressing platens or members, upper, intermediate, and lower. The upper surface of the intermediate platen serves as a work support upon which is laid work to be pressed by the upper platen. The lower surface of the intermediate platen serves as an ironing member for pressing work supported upon the lower platen. Since the present machine is designed for pressing the neckband and cuffs of a shirt, two of the platens are suitably shaped and arranged. according to standard practice, to receive the neckband, while the other two are suitably shaped and arranged, according to standard practice, to receive the two cuffs. The neckband may be ironed between the upper pair of platens and the cuffs between the lower pair, or vice versa, all forms illustrated herein being of the first form.

Assuming the three platens in superposed registering relation, with work upon each of the two work supports, the ironing operation is performed by the production of relative motion between the said three pressing members to close both pairs against each other. That may be accomplished in several ways. The intermediate member may be held stationary and th upper member brought downwardly and the lower member moved upwardly against it, Fig. showing such an arrangement.

On the other hand the lower member may be held stationary, the intermediate member may be moved downwardly upon it, and the upper member may be moved downwardly upon the intermediate member, Fig. 8 illustrating that arrangement.

Or, the upper member may be held stationary, the intermediate member may be moved upwardly against it, and the lower member may be moved upwardly against the intermediate member, Fig. 1 illustrating this form.

When all of the motion of approach of and for producing ironing pressure between the two pairs of pressing elements is produced by a single motor, as in Figs. 1 and 8, the power of the motor is compounded, as it were. It is more powerful than when all the pressing surfaces (for both neckband and cuffs in this instance) are on the faces of but two platens, as in Patterson Patent 2,050,627, where the total pressure produceable by the motor is distributed over! the entire pressing area. In the superposed relation of the present invention the pressure per square inch upon the neckband is the total pressure of the motor divided by the area of the upper pair of platens, and the pressure per square inch on the cuffs is the total pressure of the motor divided by the total area of the cuff ironing platens. Such an arrangement is shown in both Figs. 1 and 8.

All forms of the invention, by the superposed relation of pressing platens, of course reduce the over all area of the press as a whole as compared with that of the press of the aforesaid Patterson patent, saving space, and where but a single motor is employed, simplify the press as compared with presses of the type shown in Davis Patent 1,883,604..

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the press there shown comprises upper, intermediate and lower pressing or ironing platens or members, marked generally and respectively I, 2, 3. The members I, 2 of the upper pair are shaped according to standard practice for ironing the neckband, the upper surface of memher 2 constituting the work support and member I the ironing head. The working surfaces of both members are shown as arched or curved from side to side and straight fore and aft, being curved approximately in partial cylindrical form. The working surface of member 2 may be provided with padding 4 while the lower ironing surface of member I may be either roughened in any suitable manner, when a dull finish is desired, or may be a plain polished metal surface, for a smooth finish, and is usually the latter. It may be heated by steam introduced to a cavity in member I by way of the flexible conduit 5. In this form thecuifs are ironed between the lower pair of pressing elements, member 3 of which constitutes the work support, with the low.-

er surface of member 2 serving as the ironing head. To simultaneously iron the two cuffs, thi lower pair of pressing elements 2, 3, is divided into two halves, right and left, which are alike in all respects so that as to details, description of one is sufficient for both.

The work supporting surface for each cuff is of standard form, approximately an inverted V when viewed endwise, as in Fig. 2, the work supporting surface being padded, as is usual, while the correspondingly shaped lower ironing surface of member 2 is again either roughened or a plain metal surface.

When the press is closed, with work in place, the three pressing elements are in registering and superposed relation, but, of course, the pressing elements must be so arranged as to present the work supporting surfaces to the operator in a convenient position and with plenty of room or clear space in which she can work in arranging the lay. If each pair of pressing elements, I, 2, and 2, 3, is mounted for relative motion between its elements according to the principles of operation of the well known scissors type of press, requiring from 18 to 24 inches or so of separation between the pressing members to provide clear space for making the lay, the press would be impractical, because double that opening movement, or from three to four feet of clear space would be required, in addition to the height of the intermediate member. So that in this press, to provide convenient access to the work with sufficient clear space for ease of manipulation of the work, I mount the pressing elements so that the upper members I, 2, are relatively moved by direct approach and separation of the working surfaces fiatwise to each other, as in the ordinary scissors press, while separation between the two lower members is provided by the use of both horizontal motion between them, into and out of registration with each other, and a very short motion of separation and approach, fiatwise, for producing the pressing operation, as is customary in what are known as small presses.

Referring to the upper pair, I, 2, the intermediate member 2 is relatively stationary, although it does have some vertical motion in this form, as will appear. The upper pressing member is mounted upon the front arm 6 of a lever pivoted at I and having a rear arm 8 to which is pivoted at 9 a link like strut I0 yieldingly biased to swing forwardly, or to the right in Fig. 1, by a tension spring II, and the lower end of which travels along a. member I2 having an abutment I3 at its upper end. Spring II also serves to normally hold the head lever in press open position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1. Attached to the head is a handle M by means of which the operator, manually, can pull the head down to the position shown in dot-dash lines, Fig. 1, the head locked position, in which the lower end of strut I0 lies above the abutment shoulder I 3. Accordingly, in locked position of the head it becomes in effect a rigid part of the stationary frame capable of withstanding any upward thrust upon the upper pressing member I To release the head, when desired, the press is provided with a manually operatable push rod I5, biased to the right in Fig. l by a compression spring I 6, the end of said rod lying in front of the strut I9, so that when the operator pushes in upon thehand button 47 at the front of the press the strut I8 is released from engagement with the shoulder l3 and spring returns the head lever to press open position.

The intermediate member 2, in this press, is provided with side extensions l8 resting and normally supported upon the upper ends of brackets l9 carried by the stationary frame, and is biased to its lowermost position, shown in Fig. 2, by compression springs 20 upon rods 2| attached to the members l8, said rods serving as guides for the movement of the intermediate member 2 when it is pushed upwardly, as will appear later.

The intermediate pressing member 2 may also be heated in any suitable manner, such as by steam introduced to the chamber within member 2 by way of conduit 22, said steam heating member 2 being not only for the purpose of supplying heat to its lower ironing surface, but also for the purpose of maintaining dry the padding 4 on the upper surface of member 2.

As before stated, relative motion between the lower pair of pressing elements 2, 3, is produced partly by relative horizontal and partly by relative vertical motion between them. The relative horizontal motion may be produced in any suit able manner, such as by mounting the lower pressing member 3 to swing horizontally fore and aft about a horizontal axis beneath member 3, the pivotal axis being low enough so that the motion of member 3 is generally horizontal, although in a curved path, as in Binder Patent No. 1,210,402. In the form shown, however, the relative horizontal motion is accomplished by sliding movement.

Lower pressing member 3 comprises a body member 23 having two arms 24, one for each cuff, on the upper end of each of which is mounted a slide 25, carrying padding 26 and movable along suitable guides on the arm 24 horizontally fore and aft. The two sliding members 25 may be cross connected to move together, but, as shown, they are moved individually, each being provided with a composition push plate 2! by which the operator can manipulate it. Fig. 1 illustrates one of the padded slides 25 of the lower member 3 in its normal outermost position, out of registration with the ironing surface of member 2 and in position for manipulation of the work upon it by the operator in making the lay. The space above it is unobstructed and at a convenient level. By pushing in on the plate 21 the slide 25 is advanced to its innermost position with its work supporting surface in registration with the lower ironing surface of member 2, ready for the pressing operation.

When both cuff receiving slides have been moved to their innermost positions, as described, the lowermost member 3, as a unit, is raised into ironing relation with member 2. For that purpose member 23 is provided with a depending pin 28 lying above an arm of a lever 29 operatively connected to a suitable power motor. In the form shown lever 29 is pivotally connected at 3| to the piston rod of a fluid pressure motor 32 pivotally mounted at 33 in the stationary frame. Flow of pressure to and from said motor through the conduit 34 is controlled by a combined supply and exhaust valve 35, of conventional form, operated by a manual 36.

The drawings show the lower pressing element 3 biased to its lowermost position by compression springs 31 surrounding guide rods 38 corresponding respectively to the springs 20 and rods 2| before referred to.

Each of the slides 25 is preferably biased toward its outermost out of registration position. As shown, each slide is provided with a tubular member 39 slidable in bushings 40 and member 24 and containing within it a compression spring 4| abutting at its front end (at the right in Fig. 5) against the end of the tube opening and at its rear end against the end of a short rod 42 suitably secured against longitudinal motion with respect to the tube as by a cotter pin 43 passing crosswise through said rod and through openings in one of the bushings 40 and also through longitudinally extending slots 45 in the tube 39. When the slide is pushed in to its innermost position the spring 4| is compressed, and when the press opensautomatically returns the slide to its outermost position,

In operation of this press, assuming the press open, as in full lines, Fig. 1, the operator dresses the cuffs upon the work receiving portions of the slides 25, which are then advanced by pressing on the push-plates 21. Slides 25 are preferably releasably held advanced by suitable latching devices to be later described. The neckband of the shirt. is now dressed upon the padding on the upper surface of member 2. The head is then moved down, either by suitable power means, such as shown in Singiser Patent No. 2,082,913, or manually, as shown, by pulling down on the handle l4. When the lower end of strut l0 reaches the abutment l3, the head is close to member 2 and is locked so that it has become in effect a solid stationary portion of the frame. The operator now depresses manual 36 to cause operation of motor 32, which elevates member 23 and first applies the padded slides 26 to the lower ironing surface of member 2 and then raises member 2 into pressing engagement with the ironing surface of member I. The piston of motor 32 moves to its extreme position, applying the full effect of the fluid pressure to all three of the pressing members, in their superposed relation, and thereby producing an ironing effect upon the work.

The press is released ,by returning the manual 36 to its off position, evacuating pressure from motor 32, whereupon members 3 and 2 descend to their former positions and the slides 25 are released and move out horizontally automatically. By pressing on the button H, the strut I0 is released and the head opens under the influence of springs The work can then be removed and other work laid in place and the operation repeated.

Figs. 8 and 9 show another arrangement of mechanism for the same purpose. Here the lower pressing member 3 is stationary, having no vertical motion whatsoever, although its slides 25 are movable fore and aft into and out of registration with member 2 and are otherwise arranged and equipped in the same manner as those before described. To that end member 23 is solidly fastened to the stationary frame, as by bolts 45. Relative approach between members 2 and 3, when they are in registration, for producing ironing pressure, is here produced by downward motion of member 2, which is biased toward its upper position by compression springs 46 surrounding the guide rods 41, which correspond with the springs 20 and rods 2| before described, although working upwardly instead of downwardly. The head I is here again mounted upon a swinging lever, so that relative motion between members and 2 is that of the ordinary scissors press. The head lever here is operated by power instead of manually, for which purpose the rear arm of the head lever is connected to toggle links 48, the knuckle of whichis actuatedby pivotal connection to the piston rod of a fluid pressure motor 49 controlled-by valve devices 50, 5! of conventional form and actuated by manuals 52, 53.

With this machine, assuming the work has been dressed upon the padded surfaces of members 2 and 3, as before, that the slides have been pushed in and latched, as before, the manuals 52, 53 are depressed, causing fluid pressure to flow from the source by way of conduit 54 and valves 5i], 5| and pipe 55 to the fluid pressure motor 49, the piston of which moves over, straightens the toggles and brings the head down, first into contact with the padded surface of member 2, and then carrying member 2 downwardly, against the compresison of springs 46- To release the press either manual is elevated,

whereupon pressure is evacuated from the motor by way of either valve 50 or 5| and the springs Ha return the head lever to its original position, permitting member 2 to rise and the slides 25 to move to their outermost positions, whereupon the work can be removed and the operation repeated.

Figs. and 11 show still another arrangement of mechanism for the purpose, differing from those before described only as follows:

Here the intermediate pressing element 2 is stationary, having no motion of any kind, either horizontal or vertical, and to that end being solidly fastened to the brackets l9, as by bolts 59. The lower pressing member 3, including its slides and the yieldable mounting of its body member 23, as by springs 37 and rods 38, is of the same character illustrated and described in connection with Fig. 2. The head I isrmounted and operated in the same manner as in the form shown in Fig. 8. In other words, two motors are employed, marked respectively 4911 and 32a because of their correspondence to the motors 49 and 32. This press operates as follows:

Assuming the work dressed upon the padded,

surfaces of the pressing members 2 and 3, with the slides 25 pushed in to registering relation with member 2, and latched, the manuals 52, 53 are depressed. Fluid pressure thereupon flows from the source, by way of pipe 54, valves and 5! and pipe to motor 49a and simultaneously, by way of pipe 34 to motor 32a. The effect in motor 39a is to close the head I upon the intermediate member 2 and apply full pressure to the work thereon, and also to supply pressure by way of pipe 55 to the maintaining servo motors 57, 58, as before. The pressure supplied to motor 32a causes it to actuate lever 29 and elevate the lower pressing member 3 into pressing engagement with the ironingsurface of member 2 and apply full ironing pressure to the cuffs. The press remains locked closed, as the result of energization of the maintaining servo motors 5'! and 58, until the operator desires to release it, which he does by elevating either of the manuals 52, 53. This operation evacuatcs the two motors 32a, 45a and the press opens automatically, enabling the work to be changed and the operations repeated in the manner before described.

The slides 25, in any of the presses described, are provided with means for latching them in their innermost positions in registration with the member 2, so that the operator is not required to hold her hands upon either of the push plates 21 until the power motor applies pressure and holds the slides in. In other words, she can first dress the cuffs on their padded beds, push the slides in until they latch, and then use her hands for dressing the neckband. One form of latching mechanism, suitable for use on any of the machines described, is illustrated in connection with the machine shown in Fig. l, and more particularly in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive.

As illustrated, the intermediate member 2 is provided with an arm 60 extending rearwardly and then downwardly and upon which are pivoted, on a horizontal axis, two latches 61 each biased upwardly toward a stop 62 by a tension spring 53. One latch is for the left hand slide 25 and the other for the right hand slide. The left hand slide has mounted on its rear face a latch lever 64 having an arm 65 arranged to engage the rear face of the slide, and biased to such position by a tension spring 65.

Assuming the slide in its outermost position, shown in Fig. 5, the latches BI and latch levers 6d are located on their supporting parts in such position that they are at the same horizontal level. Therefore, when the slide 25 is pushed in its latch lever 64 yields against its spring 66 and snaps in to the latching position shown in Fig. 4, thereby latching and holding the slide 25 against return by its spring 4| to its normal outermost position.

When the press is closed, by relative motion between the members 2 and 3, whether it is produced by downward motion of member 2 or upward motion of member 3, the two latching parts GI, 64 are moved vertically relatively to each other until they are at different levels and out of cooperative or latching relation with each other. But they do not actually depart from latching relation until the padded portion of the slide has been pressed against the ironing surface of member 2, so that the pressure of the motor will hold the pressing elements in pressing relation. However, when the press is released by operation of the manual and the fluid pressure is evacuated from the motor, the slide automatically moves out to its outermost position without restoration of the latching parts to cooperative latching relation.

This arrangement enables the operator to dress one cuff upon its bed and push its slide in to a position in which it is latched. She then dresses the other cuff and pushes its slide support in until it is latched. She then dresses the neckband upon its support. Thereupon she closes the press in the manner before described, certain that it will fully open upon release.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for applying heavy ironing pressure between both pairs of members when all three thereof are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other, to thereby produce a pressing effect.

2. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pairs thereof by relative vertical movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for applying heavy ironing pressure between both pairs of members when all three thereof are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other, to thereby produce a pressing effect.

3. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and a single power motor effective to apply heavy ironing pressure between both pairs of members when all three thereof are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby produce a pressing effect.

4. A pressing machine comprising three super-- posed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and a single power motor effective to apply heavy ironing pressure between both pairs of members when all three thereof are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby produce a pressing effect.

5. A pressing machine comprising three supe posed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, suporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding one of said members stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

6. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical .movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding one of said members stationary and for causing .the

other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely ad- Ziacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

7. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding one of said work supporting members stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

8. A pressing-machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports'and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding one of said work supporting members stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

9. A pressing member comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged t permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding one of said ironing head members stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to threby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

10. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding one of said ironing head members stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

11. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding the upper ironing head member stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

12. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical ,2

movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding the upper ironing head member stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the, stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

13. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separationof one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding the intermediate member stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closly adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

14. A pressing machine comprising three su-,- perposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding the intermediate member stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

15. A pressing machine comprising three superposed pressing members, the lower and intermediate members serving as work supports and the intermediate and upper members cooperating therewith as ironing heads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of one pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the other pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding the lower work operating therewith as ironingheads, supporting means for said members arranged to permit separation of the upper pair thereof by relative vertical movement and of the lower pair thereof by relative horizontal movement for access to and visibility of the work, and means for holding the lower work supporting member stationary and for causing the other two members to approach the stationary member when all three members are closely adjacent to and in registry with each other to thereby apply heavy ironing pressure between them.

17. A shirt pressing machine of the character described, comprising upper, lower and intermediate members, the intermediate member having a lower ironing surface and an upper padded work supporting surface formed to receive the shirt neckband, the upper member having a lower ironing surface to cooperate with the neckband supporting surface of the intermediate member, the lower member having a padded work supporting surface formed to receive and support the two cuffs and movable horizontally into and out of registering relation with the ironing surface of the intermediate member, and means for applying said members to each other when in registry in a manner to simultaneously produce ironing pressure upon the neckband and cuffs of a shirt.

18. A shirt pressing machine, comprising a pressing head having a lower ironing surface, a work support having an upper padded work supporting surface and movable horizontally into and out of registering relation with the head, means biasing said work supporttoward its nonregistering position, means for latching said work support in registering position, means for pro ducing relative approach between said head and work support, and means arranged upon application of pressure to the work to release said latching means.

19. A shirt pressing machine, comprising upper, lower and intermediate members, the upper member being mounted for extended swinging motion about a horizontal axis toward and from the intermediate member and widely separated therefrom in its upper position for access to and visibility of the work, and the lower member being movable laterally into and out of registration with the intermediate member and closely adjacent thereto when in registration and also movable toward and from the intermediate member when in registration therewith for the pressing operation.

20. A shirt pressing machine, comprising upper, lower and intermediate members, the upper member being mounted for extended swinging motion about a horizontal axis toward and from the intermediate member and widely separated therefrom in its upper position for access to and visibility of the work, the lower member being movable laterally into and out of registration with the intermediate member and closely adjacent thereto when inregistration and also movable toward and from the intermediate member when in registration therewith for the pressing operation, and motor means for producing motion of approach between the upper and intermediate members and between theintermediate and lower members for producing a pressing operation.

21. A shirt pressing machine, comprising upper, lower and intermediate members, the upper member being mounted for extended swinging motion about a horizontal axis toward and from the intermediate member and widely separated therefrom in its upper position for access to and visibility of the work, the lower member being movable laterally into and out of registration with the intermediate member and closely adjacent thereto when in registration and also movable toward and from the intermediate member when in registration therewith for the pressing operation, and a single motor means for producing motion of approach between the upper and intermediate members and between the intermediate and lower members for producing a pressing operation.

22. A pressing machine comprising upper, lower and intermediate members, said upper member having a pressing surface on its lowerface, said lower member having a work supporting surface on its upper face, said intermediate member having a work supporting surface on its upper face adapted to coact with the pressing surface of said upper member, said intermediate member having a pressing surface on its lower face adapted to coact with the work supporting surface of said lower member, means mounting said upper member for motion into and out of registration position above and adjacent said intermediate member, means mounting said lower member for movement laterally into and out of registration with and below said intermediate member, and means for causing pressing engagement between said coacting pressing and Work supporting surfaces when the same are in registration.

23. A shirt pressing machine of the character described, comprising upper, lower and intermediate members, the lower member having two inverted V-shaped upper padded surfaces each adapted to receive and support a cuff, the intermediate member having two downwardly opening V-shaped lower ironing surfaces to cooperate with said cuff supporting surfaces and a single padded surface adapted to receive and support the neckband, the upper member having a single lower ironing surface to cooperate with the neckband supporting surface of the intermediate member, and means for applying said members to each other in a manner to simultaneously produce ironing pressure upon the neckband and cufis of a shirt.

EDWIN A. MALL. 

